Automatic gas cap and hood locking device



Dec. 31, 194-0.

T. H. GILL 2,227,253

AUTOMATIC GAS CAP AND HOOD LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 15, .1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Thomas Howard GLZLL Dec 31-, 1940- T. H. GILL 2,227,253

AUTOMATIC GAS CAP AND HOOD LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 l 0 I I I 3 'll 4 74 5/ 77 ,I 7a A Q 7 7 INVENTOR Thomas [o wm"c7 Gail 4 M 7% l ATTORNEYS T. H. GILL AUTOMATIC GAS CAP AND noon LOCKING DEVICE wmv 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Thomas Howard G WITNESSES ill M W 'M ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC GAS CAB ANDHOOD LOCKING DEVICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to automobile locks and more particularly to looks to protect the hood and gas tank of automobiles and similar vehicles.

An object of this invention is to provide a sys- 51 tem whereby locks on the gas tank and hood of an automobile may be controlled from the drivers seat.

A further object is to provide a systemwhereby such locks may be operated selectively and whereby the locks may be opened or closed at the drivers election.

A further object is to provide a system whereby such locks will operate automatically to seal the hood and gas tank and thus to prevent tampermg with the motor or gasoline.

It is common knowledge that when parked on the street or in unreliable garages automobiles are subject to thievery and improper tampering, and that many times gasoline is siphoned from a car or the motor tampered with, thus requiring the expenditure of large amountsof money by the owner.

A further object of this invention is tov devise a system whereby not only is the hood and gas tank cover locked, but the means of opening and controlling such locks is protected from the drivers seat.

In'the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 represents a plan view showing my inventioninstalled in a conventionalcar;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the instrument panel and dash board showing oneof the v operating handles mounted thereon; 35 Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the hood lock with the lock closed; 7

Fig. 4 is a similar view toFig. 3'with the catch unlatched;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the hood in open position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view in section of the instrument panel and dashboard;

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view of the same area; Fig. 8 is a view of one of the operatingv handles; Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the gas tank cap lock with the lock in closed position;

Fig. 10 is a similar view with the lock in open position;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing the con- 50 struction of the cap;

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the inner construction of said cap from the bottom;

Fig. 13 is a view showing the construction. of the cap with relation to the operating mecha- 55 nlsm of the lock;

(Cl. m -264).

Fig- 141s. a cross. sectional view taken on. the line l 4'l4 of Fig. 9.

Referring. more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 1 showsmy apparatus setup in a conventionl: chassis 20 with the conventional gas tank 5 2 The gas tank pipe22 is provided with a lock 23 and the hoods are provided with locks M identical. in operation.

The instrument board is provided with operating handles 25 and 25. The handle 25 is pivoted 10 at 21 to the bar ZB'running from the instrument board to the dashboard. The pivotal point 21 is on an upwardly extending portion 29 of the handle 25. From the upper end 30 of the handle 25' a cable or rod 3| extends forwardly to com- 15 municate with one end of a pivoted arm 32. The arm 32 is pivoted to the dashboard at 33 and at its other end 34 to the rod 3|. The arm 32 is likewise pivoted at 35 to another rod 36. On the lower end of the operating handle 25 there is 20 pivoted at 31 another rod 38 which communicates with a second arm 39, which arm 39 is likewise pivoted at 33 and communicates with a cable 40.

The operation of the rod 3i which communi- 25 cates with the operating handle 25 at 30 isprovided with a loop 4| and a similar loop or link 42 is' provided on the end of the rod 38, and it will be seen that by the movement of the operating handle 25 in a direction toward the operator a pull will be exerted upon the rod 38 and the cable ;.Whi1e the operation of the arm in the opposite direction will exert a pull upon the rod 3| and the cable 36.

In actual operation three rods43 and 44 as well as the rod 38 previously discussed-are fastened to the lower portion o t the operating handie 25 at 31,. as will be apparent from Fig. 6. These rods operate a master locking system and in the operation shown in the drawings the movement of the operating handle 25 to the rear toward the operator will cause all looks to look, while the movement forwardly will cause the opening of the hood lock 24 on the righthand side of the car. Both of the cables 40 and 36 are provided with springs 45 exerting pressure against the operation of the handle so that upon its release it will return to its neutral position.

The operating handle 26 has an upwardly extending portion 46 and a laterally extending portion 41. The operating handle 26 isv pivoted through its upwardly extending portion 46 at 48 to two arms 49 extending from the instrument board. 50. Linked to the upper end of the member 46 at 5| is a rod52, and linked to the laterally extending member 41 at 53 is another rod 54. The rod 52 extends to a pivoted arm 55 and is pivoted thereto at 56. The arm 55 is pivoted to the dashboard at 5'! and operates therefrom. Also' pivoted to the arm 55 at 58 is a cable 59 which runs to the left hood lock 24 and acts to open said lock in the same way as the cable 36 on the opposite lock. Also pivoted at 51 is an arm 69 which connects at its outer end with the rod 44 at BI. Another cable 62 connects with the arm 69 at 63 to lock the hood lock 24. Attached to the lateralarm 41 is a rod 54 which extends to a bell crank lever 64 which is pivoted at 65 to the dashboard. A spring 66 fastened at 61 to the bell crank lever 64 at 68 operates against-the movement of the rod 54. From the other arm 69 of the bell crank lever 64 a rod I9 communicates with another bell crank lever H. The opposite arm 12 of the bell crank lever II communicates with a cable I3 extending to the gas tank cap lock 23 and operates to unlock said lock. The rod 43 extends through the dashboard to a bell crank lever I4 pivoted at 65, the opposite end of which I5 communicates with the rod 16 and an additional bell crank lever 11 to operate the cable 18 which is a control cable to lock the gas tank cap lock 23.

It will be seen that the operation of the left handle 26 in an inwardly direction toward the operator will exert a pullon the rod 52 and in turn. on the cable 59 to unlock the lefthand hood lock 24, while pressure in the opposite direction will unlock the gas tank cap lock 23.

It will be further seen that while movement of the operating handle 25 inwardly operates the righthand hood lock to open, movement of the operating handle 25 outwardly will operate the rods 38, 43 and 44 to exert a pull on the cables 92, 39 and I8.

In order to prevent tampering with the levers 25 and 29, a locking mechanism of any suitable nature may be provided. l have provided a 'spring rod 89 which is pivoted to the dashboard at 8i and suspended by a spring 82 supported from the instrument panel by the arm 83 communicating with the member 89 at 84. A conventional cylinder lock 85 is provided and an operating arm 86. The lock is provided with a latch 91 which is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding member 88 on the instrument board. When the operating arm 86 is pulled downwardly the latch 81 cooperates with the member 88 to hold it in the downward position. While I have shown a conventional lock for this purpose, it will be appreciated that any suitable lock may be used to,maintain the downward position of the handle 89 and the bar 89. The movement of the member 89 into a downward position causes the bar 89 on the opposite end of the member 89 to move upwardly and a rod 99 to move outwardly against the bell crank members 64 and 14.

The cables 49 and 59 are provided with shoulders similar to the shoulder 9| shown on the cable 59. As the bar 89 is moved upwardly it will engage the shoulder 9| and thus prevent pressure being exerted on the cable 59. Similarly, the bar 99 will prevent the movement of the bell crank lever 64 and effective operation of the handles 25 and 26 will be prevented.

Referring more particularly to the locks themselves and their operation by the cables, Fig. 3 shows the hood lock 24 adapted to lock the hood panel 95. The hood panel is provided with a conventional handle 99 and a latch member 91. The lock includes a guiding shield 98 and a latch I99 having an upper tongue IM and a lower tongue I92. The latch is pivoted at I93 and has on its rear face a cut-out shoulderl94 adapted to engage the catch I95. The catch I95 is pivoted at I99 and a spring I91 exerts forward and downward pressure to hold it against the shoulder I94. On the latch I95 is an arm I98, the outer end of which communicates with the cable 36 by means of the collar I99, or any other suitable fastener, and by means of the extension II9 on the cable 36.

I have found that it is preferable to bring the cable 36 down to and under the plate III on which the lock is mounted, bringing it around the shoulder [I2 so that it will exert a downward pull on the catch arm I98.

Pivoted at I I3 to the frame of the lock H4 is a trip lever II5 which is held in place by the spring II6 fastened at III to the frame of the look I I4. The trip lever II5 has a shoulder H8 adapted to engage the edge of the catch I95.

ien the'arm I98 is moved downwardly, as shown in- Fig. 4, this will allow the latch I99 to pivot backwardly at I93. When the hood is raised the latch member 91 exerts pressure against the lip I9I to so position the lock.

The trip lever I I5 is provided with a cam surface II9 which operates against the back of the latch member, as shown in Fig. 5, so thatwhen the latch member I99 is moved backwardly on its pivot I93, the cam surface H9 is engaged and the shoulder H8 is moved out of engagement with the catch I95. The spring I91 will then move the catch I95 forwardly so that when the latch member I99 is pivoted into locked position by pressure on the lip I 92 caused by the latch member 91 when the hood is closed, the catch I95 will spring forwardly into engagement with the shoulder I94 of the latch member I99.

It will be seen that the lock is operated "by pressure on the lever 25 as previously discussed, causing a pull on the cable 36 which in turn lowers the arm I98. The hood may then be opened and the latch member I99 will be pivoted upon the Opening, releasing the trip lever I I5 and allowing the catch member I95 to move forward. When the hood is replaced, pressure of the latch member 91 on the lower lip I92 will cause the lock to operate and return to its normal locked position. In the event that the lock is inadvertently opened, the use of the master control which will exert pressure on the cable 49 and in turn on the bellcrank lever I29 to operate the member I 2| which will contact the shoulder I22 of the trip latch II5, freeing the catch member I95 and allowing it to move backwardly in engagement with the shoulder I94. The lock on the opposite side of the hood operates in the same manner, and it will be seen that either lock may be opened at will.

I As previously stated, the cables 13 and18 extend rearwardly to the gasoline tank cap lock, cable I3 operating to open said lock and cable '18 acting as a master control to close said lock. (Pressure is exerted on the cable I3 by the movement of the handle 29 forwardly.) The cable I3 is pivoted to an arm I25 at I26. The arm I25 is pivoted at I21 to a catch I28. The catch I28 has a cammed surface I29 and operates upwardly and downwardly between the guide members I39 and I3I. A spring I32, fastened at one end to the guide member I 39 and at the other to the arm I25, tends to pull the catch I28 upwardly intoian' operative position. On theguide I31 is a stop 133' whichengages: a shoulder I34 of. the arm I25to guideits movement.

Pivoted' to -the gasitankpipe'ZZT at lf35'is a swivelmember I36. An arm I31 is pivoted to one end of theswivel at" I38 and av concave surface I39: isv provided? at the opposite end of theswivel member I36. The concave surface I39 is adapted. to engage a shoulder I48 on the arm I25. In addition, a spring I4I connectsthe arm I25 and the arm I31 to control. their relative movements. When pressure is exerted on the cablelt" by the operation of the handle 25 rearwardly, the cable pulls the arm I25 downwardly. and clockwise against the spring I32 causing the swivel member I36 to push the arm I31 upwardly through the face I42 of the look, as shown in Fig. 10. This causes the catch I28 to move downwardly through the guide members I35 and I3I.

The gasoline tank cap I44 is provided with an outer face I45 and an inner pivotal cap of cork, rubber, or other suitable material I46. A downwardly extending rim I41 closely cooperates with the upwardly extending flange I48 of the case of the lock. Fastened to the inner side of the outer facing I45 of the cap I44 is a plate I49 extending around the member I46 and .so shaped as to cooperate with right angular members I58 on the inner surface of the flange I48 so that when the lower ends of the member I49 are in contact with the members I50 the cap may not be removed. Stops I5I are provided to limit the turning of the cap so that when the lower end of the members I49 are brought into engagement with the members I50 the turning of the cap will be restricted.

From an examination of Fig. 10, it will be apparent that when the latch member I28 is pulled downwardly by pressure on the cable I3, the cap may be turned and the member I49 will not contact the latch member I28. On the other hand, when the latch member. I 28 is in an upward position, as shown in Fig. 9, movement will be prevented by said latch member. Similarly, when the latch member I28 is in an operative position, the arm I3? is down within the lock 23 and will not contact the members I49 when the cap is put on. Due to the beveled or cammed face I25, the cap may be put in place when the latch E28 is in an operative position, and it will slide downwardly against the spring I32 to allow the cap to pass over.

After the cable '13 has been pulled and the arm I25 brought downwardly and pivoted, it will be noted that the arm I31 is in an upward position. This arm is provided with a cutout portion I52 which is adapted to engage the face I42 of the look when the arm I39 is in an upward position. As the cap is removed, the members I50 of the cap will release the arm I31 and it will be drawn downwardly by the spring I4I at the same time allowing the arm I25 and the catch I28 to be returned to operative position by pressure of the Spring I32.

After the lock has been opened by pressure on the cable 53 it may be desired to lock the same without removing the cap I44 by operation of the master control 1ever--that is, by pulling the handle 25 rearwardly, pressure will be: brought to bear on the cable I8. The cable 18 is fastened to a plate I55 which is pivoted at I54 and held in an inoperative position by the spring I55 running between the face I42 of the lock and the bottom of'the plate I 53. The plate I53isuprovided with a shoulder" I56 which, when the plate I55 is pivoted due to pressure by the cable I8, contacts the arm I31 and. disengages the. cutout portion I52 from the face I42 of the lock allowing the arm I31. to move downwardly and the lock to look.

In order that repairs may be made to the look from time to time, I provide a door I60 at one end thereof" having a hook catch ISI. This. catch engages a bar I52 which is pivoted to the. case of thelock 23 at I53 and engages at itsfar end I541 an arm I65: The arm I65 extends upwardly through the face of the look and has a cutout por-tionl I58 to:engage'the face I42of the lockto maintain". it in position.

I also provide a hole IB'I in the arm I65, and, when the cap is removed, by inserting a tool through the hole It! the arm I65 may be disengaged from the face I42 of the lock, pulled upwardly, thus freeing the door I60 and providing a means for repairing or oiling the look. It will be noted that this provides the only means for getting at the working mechanism of the lock.

It-will be apparent from an examination of the drawings and the description herein, that I have provided a means for the protection of the engine and gas tank of an automobile which may be easily and simply operated from the instrument board of the car. All of the locks are automatic in their operation so that when the hood and gas tank cap are placed in their respective positions they immediately lock. The operator may selectively decide which look he desires to unlock and may look all of the looks with a single operation.

I claim:

1. The combination with an automobile having an instrument panel, gas tank and hood covers, of a lock system, said system comprising separate hood and gas cap locks, all of said locks being automatic in their locking operation, operating handles on said instrument board, cables and connecting rods connecting the mechanism of said locks with said operating handles, whereby the movement of one of said handles in one direction will cause tension upon the cable operating said gas tank lock to unlock said lock, and the movement of said handle in the other direction will cause tension on the cable operating one of said hood locks to open said lock, and whereby the operation of the other handle in one direction will cause tension upon the cable opening the other hood look, while the operation of said handle in the opposite direction will cause tension upon cables communicating with all of said locks to cause all of said locks to close.

2. The combination with an automobile havadapted to engage said cables and rods to pre- 7 vent the operation thereof.

3. The combination with an automobile having an instrument panel, gas tank and hood covers, of a lock system, said lock system comprising separate hood and gas cap locks, cables operatively connected with the opening mechanism of each of said locks and additional cables operatively connected with the closing mechanism of each of said locks, lever means on said instrument panel for selectively calming tension on each of said first-mentioned cables to open any of said locks, and for causing tension on all of said second-mentioned cables to close or open the locks.

4. The combination with an automobile having an instrument panel, gas tank and hood covers, of a lock system, said system comprising separate hood and gas cap looks, opening and closing mechanism on each of said locks, operating levers on said instrument panel, cables running from the opening mechanism of the gas of all of said locks to said second-mentioned operating lever, whereby the movement of said lever in one direction will open said secondmentioned hood lock and the movement of said lever in the opposite direction will close all open locks.

THOMAS HOWARD GILL. 

